Writing Conflict
by
Celia Moore
I had a scene in my first draft of my novel Fox Halt Farm where one
character needed to confront another, which my wonderful editor Amanda Horan gently
suggested needed overhauling.
In truth, I am a person who runs away from conflict, ducking my
head, sliding away from my challenger, or at worst, becoming a blubbering ball
of regret. My original story was full of love with the repercussions of
betrayal and lies neatly skipped over.
In fact, when I rewrote the scene, I actually enjoyed the experience
and felt my book became so much stronger because of the stand-off I created, and
the tension it evoked.
Case Study: I am not
going to use ‘real’ characters here because the scene in Fox Halt Farm that I
am critiquing comes late in the story and although there is forewarning the
confrontation should be unexpected. It
is brought about when ‘Anne’ (not her name) finds out that the admirable
‘David’ has been lying to her. These are a few of the elements that I used to
make the conflict between them real.
· The two characters
had different objectives which really mattered to them.
·
Normally, Anne would be passive and David an aggressor, but Anne’s
distress brought about by David’s deceit gives her energy and determination enough
to stand up to him. She also uses an element of surprise to try and even the difference
in their power levels. She is surprisingly confident when the reader knows that
David will be a difficult adversary.
·
Anne confronts David in a place where their conflicting
differences have to be resolved there and then, neither party wants to walk
away.
·
This scene is needed to reinforce David’s true nature to the
readers – up until this point he had seemed benevolent. It is used to identify David’s
priorities too. The conflict was required to split these two characters up
permanently. Lastly, I wanted the tension to build and continue.
·
David’s business, personal and family life are all at risk.
·
Anne is conflicted, trying to fight but being naturally tearful when
angry, and losing self control. She struggles with her emotions, exploding
violently at one point. David, in contrast is mainly in control of all his
actions, using his intellect to outmanoeuvre Anne, building emotional friction.
·
Anne keeps being knocked down but gets back up ready to fight each
time.
·
David has arguments to endorse his behaviour but he also uses his
superior physical strength too. Demonstrating to the reader how passionate he is
about defending himself.
·
I wrote the conflict through dialogue to display contempt, revenge
and hatred, which I interspersed with physical actions. I wanted to provide the
reader with visual detail to enhance their understanding of their differing
levels of emotion, and the challenges Anne and David faced.
·
I created a dilemma for Anne to worry the reader, aware of her
frailty – at this point she seems to have lost the battle – but eventually she
manages to use this predicament to her advantage.
·
I wrote from Anne’s perspective allowing her to analyse each of
David’s moves, making decisions to beat him – but each time David reacts
cleverly to test her again.
·
The conflict ends in an impasse – Anne has lost and regrets the
confrontation, fearing it will make things worse for her, but this argument
will have repercussions for David too, this is not a definite victory for him.
· Anne’s
grief and need for healing overwhelms her – she sees things in a new way ,
leaving readers anticipating what will happen next.
This is not meant as a definitive ‘how to’, I am far too
self-conflicted to think I know it all. I still have lots to learn but I hope this
gives some ideas, maybe there is something here that you can use too?
*****My sequel to Fox Halt Farm, Culmfield Cuckoo has just
been published, and I really loved writing the conflict elements in this new
novel.*****
INTRODUCING…
Culmfield
Cuckoo
by
Celia Moore
When Billy reaches out to help, her kindness brings many changes
which threaten hopes, homes, and even the people she loves the most.
Who is the Culmfield Cuckoo?
Will they help Billy get her life back? Or is the Cuckoo the
cause of everything that is going wrong?
Who is telling the truth?
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FOX HALT FARM by Celia Moore is the first book in the series, and Fox Halt Farm is FREE from Tuesday 2nd
April 12am PDT finishing on Saturday 6th 11.59pm PDT.
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About the author.
Celia Moore
(1967-now) grew up on a small farm near Exeter. She had a successful career as
a Chartered Surveyor working in the City of London before working her way back
to Devon. In 2000, she left the office to start a new adventure as an outdoor
instructor, teaching rock climbing and mountaineering.
Today she gardens for a
few lovely customers, runs and writes (accompanied at all times by a border
terrier x jack russell called Tizzy). She
is running the London Marathon in April 2019 for three cancer charities.
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